Hughes Is Zamora Convert

Last updated : 10 September 2010

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Zamora, a target for Liverpool and Birmingham during the summer transfer window, today signed a new four-year contract that will keep him at Craven Cottage until 2014. It continues a remarkable transformation for the 29-year-old England striker who only last November was being jeered by a section of his own fans.

"Bobby's a good player and I've been really impressed with what I've seen," he said. "Maybe I underestimated his ability like many other people have."

He added: "But having worked with him on a daily basis I've been very impressed with the way he brings team-mates into the game.

"He's a big lad who can look after himself, which is important, and when he's in full flow he's difficult to stop.

"He's a big part of our focus as an attacking team. I like his personality and he's very popular.

"There's more to come from him. He's 29 and that's when strikers reach their best.

"They mature and understand how they can be effective in games, which only comes from experience.

"We think we'll get his best years and that's why we've signed him until 2014.

"To get him signed up again is a feather in our cap. He's happy here and is happy with the environment. There was interest from other clubs in Bobby because he's a good player but he was never going to leave."